French Girl Guide to Skincare

French skincare is something that continues to fascinate and amaze me. It doesn’t matter how many books I read or how many trips I take to the pharmacy, there’s always something new to learn. And yet most of the French beauty routines are still based on age-old wisdoms passed down by grand-mères. The one thing I have learned however, is that French skincare is all about prevention and upkeep. It’s not about quick cures or miracle masks, but rather about taking good care of your skin. Protecting it from the environment, preventing sun damage, and treating any skin issues with simple but effective beauty bits.

FRENCH GIRL GUIDE TO SKINCARE

PROTECT & PREVENT

Rather than treating skincare bits as problem solvers that come to your rescue after the damage is done, French skincare is all about preventing the damage in the first place. So instead of wrinkle cream, pick a protective fluid.

Pollution | NUXE Bio Beauté Detox Fluid

Before visiting a French pharmacy, I had now idea that detox fluid was even a thing. Nor did I realize that protecting my skin from pollution is something that I should be concerned about. This apricot tinted cream protects your skin from pollution and harmful effects of a city environment, while adding a nice bit of radiance too. It also smells like mandarins.

Sun Damage | Lierac Sunissime Energizing Protective Fluid

Using a good SPF just might be the cheapest and easiest anti-age solution you’ll ever come across. However, it also happens to be one of the most tiresome products to use. Which is why I love this Lierac beauty. It doesn’t only protect your skin from UVA & UVB, but also includes peptides to actually help you tan safely and beautifully.

TREAT

One thing I love about French skincare is that they seem to have a specific product for every skin concern. And still the products aren’t gimmicky or designed to just get you to spend more money on cosmetics. (We all know those products exists). These are a few of my skincare woes, and the products that had them sorted.

Dry, dehydrated skin is probably one of the most common skin woes out there, and one that I struggle with on a daily basis. This hydrating serum is packed with organic grape water and hyaluronic acid, and it’s basically like giving your skin a tall glass of water. It’s has a lightweight silky consistency and a fresh citrusy scent, and my skin drinks it up in seconds.

This one could also be included in the ‘prevent’ category, since it both corrects and prevents dark spots. It’s a double concentrate with a light serum for both night and day. The day serum is packed with vitamins and antioxidants to brighten, while the night formula has several different acids to activate cell renewal. It leaves my skin looking more even and radiant, and has the loveliest white musk and magnolia scent.

Dark Circles | Darphin Dark Circles Relief and De-Puffing Eye Serum

To be honest, I was a bit skeptical when the French pharmacie lady handed this to me. I’ve tried quite a few eye creams claiming to erase dark circles, but most of them just don’t seem to make a difference. But this one is, if not quite magic, then at least as close as it gets. It’s a light, almost watery serum that really helps to de-puff and brighten under the eyes. The effects might not show immediately, but take a break from using it and trust me, you’ll see the difference.